Study: Lack of sleep means more eating

'Could indeed be a powerful force driving somebody to gain weight'

(THE GLOBE AND MAIL) — If you’re concerned about your weight and trying to shed a few pounds, you would be well advised to get a good night’s rest.

That’s the take-home message from a study by researchers at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. They found people eat more when they’re sleep-deprived.

The new report builds on earlier observational studies of the general population that suggest people who suffer from chronic sleep problems are prone to weight gain.

But in this case, the Mayo Clinic researchers studied 17 healthy young men and women in a carefully controlled laboratory setting, hoping to obtain a better understanding of the effects of sleep on food consumption.

For three days, the volunteers were closely monitored to determine how much they normally eat and sleep. Then they were randomly divided into two groups for eight more days of testing.